Independent Nonprofit Journalism Since 2022Shining a Light
on Tennessee
Named after Tennessee’s state insect, The Tennessee Firefly illuminates the education and government stories that matter most to Volunteer State communities.
Factual, Local Journalism for Tennessee
In an era when over 2,500 U.S. newspapers have closed since 2004, Tennessee communities deserve a dedicated news source covering the policies and decisions that shape their children’s futures.
The Tennessee Firefly was launched in 2022 to shine a light on the education and government stories that are often missed by traditional media. Our mission is to strengthen communities through factual, locally-focused journalism that increases public awareness and civic engagement.
We believe every Tennessean has the right to know what their government is doing, how their tax dollars are being spent, and what decisions are shaping their children’s education.
Trust & Accuracy at Our Core
We maintain strict editorial standards following the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics—emphasizing truth, independence, and accountability.
Accuracy & Fact-Checking
We verify all facts with credible sources before publishing and provide context to avoid misrepresentation. Speed or format will never excuse inaccuracies.
Fairness & Balance
We strive to be impartial, seek out diverse perspectives, and clearly label opinion or commentary. Every voice deserves to be heard.
Corrections & Accountability
If we make an error, we correct it promptly and transparently. We explain editorial decisions when needed and own our mistakes.
Meet the Editorial Team
Experienced journalists dedicated to serving Tennessee communities with factual, impactful reporting.
Firefly Editorial Team
The Firefly Editorial Team includes experienced journalists who provide insight into important education topics.
Jacob Holley
Jake is an experienced journalist who has spent his career reporting on news, business, sports, and more in Oklahoma, North Dakota, and Tennessee. He graduated from Oklahoma State University, where he pursued his love for writing and telling people's stories. Jake has had a great affection for Tennessee since he was a child and relishes the privilege of making a difference in the state he loves.
Sky Arnold
Sky is a veteran broadcast journalist with nearly two decades of experience covering news across Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Tennessee. He spent years reporting on Tennessee government and education for Fox 17 News in Nashville and WBBJ in Jackson. A University of Oklahoma graduate, Sky brings seasoned expertise and a strong commitment to factual reporting.
Trent Heath
Trent Heath serves as the Government Relations Coordinator for Tennesseans for Student Success. Prior to joining TSS, Trent spent five years working for the Tennessee General Assembly, where he served as Executive Legislative Assistant and as part of Senate staff leadership for Chairman Ken Yager. He also worked as a Research Analyst for Chairman Gardenhire on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Zoe Kuhn
Zoe is a journalism student at Middle Tennessee State University. She's spending the summer covering higher education for the Tennessee Firefly and other education topics. Zoe has also written for MTSU Sidelines.
Funding Transparency
The Tennessee Firefly is a product of and funded by Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS).
Who is TSS?
Formed in 2014, TSS is a 501(c)(4) organization that champions effective education policies that provide access to a quality public education for every child in Tennessee. TSS leverages data and political impact, along with the collective power of parents, advocates, and policymakers, to make Tennessee the gold standard for the rest of the nation and hold policymakers accountable for how their actions impact student outcomes.
Learn More About TSS →Full Transparency
We believe transparency with readers is essential to trust. Our editorial decisions are independent of our funding source. TSS does not influence, review, or approve any content published by The Tennessee Firefly.
Read Our Funding Policy →Built by Long Drive Marketing
Tennessee Firefly is built and maintained by Long Drive Marketing, a Nashville-based digital agency. Long Drive Marketing built the custom Newsroom CMS, the public-facing site, the school finder, the governor race tracker, the bill-and-vote pipeline, and the statewide summer-camps directory. Long Drive Marketing partners with publishers and nonprofits that need real engineering paired with editorial sense.
Get in Touch
Have a tip, a correction, or want to partner with us? We want to hear from you.